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Addison was not in court as his lawyers fought to spare his life, but there was a strong showing by the Manchester Police Department in memory of their fallen colleague.

Defense attorneys appealed 22 issues related to the case, but the justices heard oral arguments on only a handful. Lawyers said one of the key issues in the case was where the trial was held.

"This was a case where the state used venue to its advantage," said defense lawyer David Rothstein. "This was a police officer whose death had an unprecedented effect on the community, an officer who started his last shift 100 yards from the courthouse door."

In his closing statements, Rothstein pointed out that Addison was an African-American defendant accused of shooting a white victim. He said Briggs was held in high standing by the community.

The defense also raised questions about whether the jury was given improper instructions about the law that favored the prosecution and whether a statement Addison gave to police should have been played when his sentence was being decided.

"Addison's mental state, what he was thinking in that alley at the time he shot Officer Briggs, was critical," Rothstein said. "During a three-hour interrogation about 15 hours after he shot Officer Briggs in that alley, Addison said he did not act purposefully."

But the state said the Supreme Court is not a 13th juror and that the defense was given every opportunity to argue their issues before the trial. Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Woodcock said every issue was correctly decided.

"I think you have to be thinking whether the jurors were operating on some improper nature, and I think this record simply does not support that conclusion," she said.

It could take several months for the justices to render their opinions.